STORY: China-built power station boosts green development in Cote d'Ivoire  
SHOOTING TIME: Aug. 19, 2024  
DATELINE: Sept. 4, 2024
LENGTH: 00:02:38
LOCATION: SOUBRE, Cote d'Ivoire 
CATEGORY: ECONOMY 

SHOTLIST:
1. various of the Soubre hydroelectric power plant
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (French): WAZI GOFFRY, Operator at Soubre hydroelectric power plant
3. SOUNDBITE 2 (French): YAO MICHEL N'GUESSAN, Worker from Soubre hydroelectric power plant construction project 
4. SOUNDBITE 3 (French): ESTHER SIAGBE, Local villager 

STORYLINE:

Rising from Cote d'Ivoire's Sassandra River basin, the Soubre hydroelectric power plant stands as the nation's largest hydropower facility.

Built by the Power Construction Corporation of China (PowerChina) and officially commissioned in November 2017, the landmark project has provided the region with clean, reliable power for nearly seven years, boosting economic growth and improving the lives of local communities.

With an installed capacity of 275 megawatts, the plant has already generated around 9.5 billion kWh of electricity, increasing Cote d'Ivoire's national power generation capacity by nearly 14 percent.

Beyond energy production, the Soubre project has been a catalyst for social and economic empowerment.

SOUNDBITE 1 (French): WAZI GOFFRY, Operator at Soubre hydroelectric power plant
"First of all, we would like to thank PowerChina for all the projects it has carried out for the vision of Cote d'Ivoire. Thanks to this hydropower station project, almost half of the population of Soubre has found jobs, including me, who came from Abidjan. The various projects undertaken by PowerChina in the local area have provided job opportunities for a large number of young people in Cote d'Ivoire."

SOUNDBITE 2 (French): YAO MICHEL N'GUESSAN, Worker from Soubre hydroelectric power plant construction project  
"I would like to thank the Chinese company and my colleagues. This work experience makes me very happy because my living standard has been significantly improved. I feel privileged to have grown from a regular electrician to a team leader. The hydropower project has had a positive impact on my life in many ways. Now I can provide a better life for my family and give my children and younger brothers the opportunity to go to school."

SOUNDBITE 3 (French): ESTHER SIAGBE, Local villager 
"The arrival of electricity has come as a huge surprise to us local villagers. We have been living in darkness for a long time. Now, we have finally welcomed the light, which is truly exhilarating. Previously, we could not watch television freely and could only use batteries to watch it occasionally. Now that we have electricity, we can watch television as much as we want."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Soubre, Cote d'Ivoire.
(XHTV)